Chabot College
Fall 2010
Course Outline for Physics 4B
GENERAL PHYSICS II
Catalog Description:
4B - General Physics II
5 units
Electric fields, electric currents, magnetic fields, induced currents, alternating circuits, Maxwell’s equations,
Electromagnetic waves. Prerequisite: Physics 4A and Mathematics 2 (both completed with a grade of "C" or
higher). 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: lecture 70, laboratory 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course the student should be able to:
1. analyze and solve a variety of problems often using calculus in topics such as:
a. addition, subtraction, dot product and cross product of vectors;
b. linear and rotational kinematics;
c. dynamics;
d. momentum;
e. work, kinetic energy, and potential energy;
f. rotational kinematics and dynamics;
g. statics;
h. gravitation;
i. oscillations;
2. operate standard laboratory equipment;
3. analyze laboratory data;
4. write comprehensive laboratory reports;
5. understand the natural logarithmic function and its definition in terms of a Riemann integral;
6. define and differentiate inverse functions;
7. apply inverse function theory to define and derive properties of the exponential function from the
natural logarithm;
8. apply inverse function theory to the trigonometric functions obtaining their derivatives;
9. understand and use the hyperbolic functions and their inverses in differentiation and integration
environments;
10. use standard techniques of integration such as integration by parts, trigonometric integrals,
trigonometric substitution partial fractions, rational functions of sine and cosine;
11. graph polar equations and find area of regions enclosed by the graphs of polar equations;
12. evaluate limits using L'hopital's rule;
13. evaluate improper integrals;
14. understand and use parametric representations of plane curves;
15. construct polynomial approximation (Taylor polynomials) for various functions and estimate their
accuracy using an appropriate form of the remainder term in Taylor's formula;
16. determine convergence of sequences;
17. determine whether a series converges absolutely, converges conditionally or diverges;
18. construct (directly or indirectly) power series representations (Taylor series) for various functions,
determine their radii of convergence, and use them to approximate function values.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. analyze and solve a variety of problems often using calculus in topics such as:
a. electrostatics;
b. electric potential and potential energy;
2. electric currents and DC circuits;
a. magnetism;
b. electromagnetic induction;
c. alternating circuits;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Physics 4B, page 2
Fall 2010
d. Maxwell’s Equations
e. Electromagnetic Waves
3. operate standard laboratory equipment;
4. analyze laboratory data;
5. write comprehensive laboratory reports according to published lab report standards.
Course Content (Lecture):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
Electric force and electric charge
The electric field
Gauss' Law
The electrostatic potential
Electric energy
Capacitors and dielectrics
Currents and Ohm's Law
DC circuits
10,
The magnetic force and field
Ampere's Law
Electromagnetic induction
Alternating current circuits
Maxwell’s Equations and EM Radiation
Course Content (Laboratory):
1. Laboratory experiments, simulations, and activities exploring the lecture content that may include
the following concepts
a. Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism
b. Electric force and electric charge
c. The electric field (Mapping Field lines)
d. Gauss' Law
e. The electrostatic potential
f. Electric energy
g. Capacitors and dielectrics
h. Currents and Ohm's Law
i. DC circuits (Parallel and Series Circuits, RC Circuits)
j. The magnetic force and field (Earth’s magnetic field)
k. Ampere's Law
l. Electromagnetic induction (Motors and Generators)
m. Alternating current circuits (RLC circuits)
n. Maxwell’s Equations and EM Radiation
2. Experimental Technique, Manual and Computerized Collection and Analysis of Data, Error
Analysis.
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lecture and discussion.
Problem solving.
Demonstrations.
Laboratory experimentation.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Physics 4B, page 3
Fall 2010
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments:
a. Weekly homework/question sets: 10+ discussion and/or numerical problems taken from the
textbook and online homework systems. Example: A parallel plate capacitor has fixed
charges +Q and –Q. The separation of the plates is then tripled. By what factor does the
energy stored in the electric field change? How much work must be done to increase the
separation of the plates from d to 3.0d. Assume the area of each plate is A.
b. Laboratory reports (individual and group), including computer-based data acquisition and
analysis. Example: Determine the value of the horizontal component of Earth’s local
magnetic field in the laboratory using the Biot-Savart law applied to solenoids, by measuring
harmonic oscillations resulting from magnetic moments acting on a suspended magnet.
c. Written assignments that encourage critical thinking and writing skills by including essays
which involve analytical reasoning; special exercise worksheets; computer simulations and
tutorials; individual and group activities, research papers, long-term individual and group
projects. Example: Research an application of physics related to a topic from our class, and
write a 5+ page paper, including at least 5 current outside references. Present your work to
the class in a 10-minute presentation, and develop a handout to support your presentation.
d. Participation in email and web-based instruction, discussion, homework assignments, and
tutorials, including web-based research on topics dealing with physics and its applications to
technology.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a. Homework
b. Quizzes
c. Written Laboratory reports (individual and group) based on the Physics Department
Laboratory Standards and graded on criteria that may include the following:
1) Description of experimental procedures
2) Completeness of data collected
3) Quality of data collected
4) Computational precision and accuracy
5) Accuracy and precision of experimental laboratory results
6) Proper use of symbolic notation
7) Quality of analysis of scientific principles explored
8) Quality of narrative explanations and reasoning
9) Representation of data in tables or diagrams
10) Evaluation of the experiment overall, including accuracy and error
d. Midterm examinations
e. Final examination
f. Research papers
g. Student projects
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Giancoli, Pearson/Addison Wesley , 2009
Special Student Materials:
None.
SH:sh
Revised: 11/2009